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VW up won't start

13

Comments

  • WellKnownSid
    WellKnownSid Posts: 2,159 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
    Halfords, Kwikfit etc.
    Get me some petrol and matches I see where this is going.
    Broke down at a services on the M6 in my classic Mercedes Benz.  No problem - recovery came, just needed a jump start and new battery and Halfords was just off the next junction.

    Went in to check - I could see they had many batteries on the shelf and could fit as I had no tools - told the recovery driver and he left.

    Went to buy the battery + fitting and computer said no... "It's a Mercedes and needs a special AGM battery because it has stop-start and will have loads of computers on board - and we are only allowed to fit what the computer tells us is the correct battery.  That'll have to be ordered in for next week and cost £300 more." :#

    Ended up having to buy tools because they refused to fit anything that the computer did not allow.

    I've never used that particular bicycle repair shop since...
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 21,726 Forumite
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    @Brie did you get started eventually?
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Kirk Hill Co-op member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 35 MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
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  • greyteam1959
    greyteam1959 Posts: 4,793 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just be aware the you can't use jump leads with many modern cars.
    How modern? would there be a warning sticker or somesuch? My 2015 hatchback's still on it's original battery and it's getting chilly out there....

    Website? Put your reg into "JumpLeadsOrNot.com"?
    2025 Kia Stonic hybrid.
    Sticker on the battery it says do not jump start. 
    And you can't because I have tried !!
  • flaneurs_lobster
    flaneurs_lobster Posts: 9,337 Forumite
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    Just be aware the you can't use jump leads with many modern cars.
    How modern? would there be a warning sticker or somesuch? My 2015 hatchback's still on it's original battery and it's getting chilly out there....

    Website? Put your reg into "JumpLeadsOrNot.com"?
    2025 Kia Stonic hybrid.
    Sticker on the battery it says do not jump start. 
    And you can't because I have tried !!
    Pretty poor having to jump a car that's less than a year old? 
  • matt_drummer
    matt_drummer Posts: 2,319 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper

    2025 Kia Stonic hybrid.
    Sticker on the battery it says do not jump start. 
    And you can't because I have tried !!
    I have to ask, why did you try when it says don't do it?

    Weren't you concerned that there might be a good reason not to do it?
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 16,526 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Well Halfords will do a battery test for free and then will fit a battery if one is needed (which seems likely).  But that involves me getting there.  So need to check my roadside assistance and the Halfords mobile service cover.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe, Old Style Money Saving and Pensions boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

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  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 21,726 Forumite
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    edited 1 January at 3:05PM
    So you haven't got your car started yet?
    Brie said:
    Well Halfords will do a battery test for free and then will fit a battery if one is needed (which seems likely).
    Please don't go buying a battery until you know for certain that the battery is at fault.
    Brie said:
    So need to check my roadside assistance ...
    If youv've got Home Start (or whatever your provider calls it) this might be the simplest option.
    If not, do you have a friend or neighbour with a set of jump leads? And/or a car battery charger?
    Is the car somewhere that you can get an extension lead to it, so you can charge the battery in-situ?
    Here's a set of adequate jump leads you could have delivered by Sunday:
    And a mains charger:
    If you really do need a battery, I think the UP uses an 079 size? Something like this:

    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Kirk Hill Co-op member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 35 MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 16,526 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    QrizB said:
    @Brie did you get started eventually?
    No - I haven't tried as there's no need to drive anywhere today.  I'll try tomorrow and if I get the same clicking, non response I'll book Halfords to come and install a new battery.  It's less than £100 for them to come with it and install.  Likely I could do the job myself (done it in the ancient past) but baby, it's cold out there and I don't want to freeze my fingers and I don't have the tools!  Meanwhile I'll get the chauffeur to ferry me about.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe, Old Style Money Saving and Pensions boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board:  https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php

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    "Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”  Nellie McClung
    ⭐️🏅😇🏅🏅🏅
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 16,526 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    And no homestart assistance so unless I check with the neighbours having jumpers I will have to get it to Halfords in some way.  
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe, Old Style Money Saving and Pensions boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    Click on this link for a Statement of Accounts that can be posted on the DebtFree Wannabe board:  https://lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php

    Check your state pension on: Check your State Pension forecast - GOV.UK

    "Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”  Nellie McClung
    ⭐️🏅😇🏅🏅🏅
  • daveyjp
    daveyjp Posts: 14,032 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Despite doing over 100 miles earlier this week daughter's car wouldn't start yesterday, it was minus 3 overnight and this appears to have found a weakness.

    Had a booster jump and all OK yesterday, reading 12.5v before starting and 14.3 when engine running.  Started OK this morning, voltages still OK, but  just had it tested and CCA is only 180 on a 380 rated battery.  With cold weather due all next week its new battery time as I know they don't heal themselves,
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